Yves Tumor
{{short description|American musician and producer}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Yves Tumor
| image = Yves Tumor in 2019 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Yves Tumor in 2019
| birth_name = Sean Lee Bowie
| alias = {{hlist|Teams|Bekelé Berhanu|Rajel Ali|Shanti|Yvesie Ray Vaughan}}
| birth_date = February 14, 1990
| birth_place = Miami, Florida, U.S.
| genre = {{hlist|Electronic{{cite web |last=Hutchinson |first=Kate |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/sep/22/one-to-watch-yves-tumor-safe-in-hands-love |title=One to watch: Yves Tumor |work=The Guardian |date=September 22, 2018 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Frank |first=Alex |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/rising/10003-the-disgusting-beauty-of-enigmatic-experimentalist-yves-tumor |title=The Disgusting Beauty of Enigmatic Experimentalist Yves Tumor |work=Pitchfork |date=January 11, 2017 |access-date=October 17, 2018}}|experimental|rock{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/best-albums-2020/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020|website=Pitchfork|last=Torres|first=Eric|date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 9, 2020}}|neo-psychedelia}}
| years_active = 2010–present
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Mykki Blanco|James Ferraro|Chino Amobi|Dev Hynes|Ecco2K|Diana Gordon|Kelsey Lu}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|synthesizer|keyboards|guitar|bass|drums}}
| website = https://yves-tumor.com/
}}
Sean Lee Bowie (born February 14, 1990){{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}, best known by the recording alias Yves Tumor, is an American musician and producer of experimental music, born in Miami, Florida, and currently based in Turin, Italy.{{cite web |last=McDermott |first=Patrick D. |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/10/05/fader-mix-yves-tumor |title=FADER Mix: Yves Tumor |work=The Fader |date=October 5, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://yves-tumor.bandcamp.com |title=Bandcamp: Yves Tumor |website=Bandcamp |access-date=October 16, 2018}}
To date, they have released five studio albums: When Man Fails You (2015), Serpent Music (2016), Safe in the Hands of Love (2018), Heaven to a Tortured Mind (2020), and Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds) (2023).
Life and career
Raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, Tumor started making music at age 16 as an outlet away from "dull, conservative surroundings." Tumor is self-taught, and plays drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards. Describing their experience growing up in Tennessee as unpleasant, Yves moved at age 20 to San Diego, and then after college, to Los Angeles. They met Mykki Blanco in 2012, later touring for two and a half years throughout Europe and Asia.{{cite web|last=Bulut |first=Selim |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/32976/1/yves-tumor-serpent-music-album-stream-interview |title=Yves Tumor is making mood music in spiritual solitude |work=Dazed |date=September 20, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2018}}
In the early 2010s, Tumor recorded as Teams, and made music which AllMusic described as "post-chillwave". They debuted the Yves Tumor project in 2015 with an EP for Berlin's experimental club label Janus, and another one for Blanco's label, Dogfood MG.{{cite web |last=Ballard |first=Thea |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yves-tumor-experiencing-the-deposit-of-faith |title=Yves Tumor: Experiencing the Deposit of Faith Album Review |work=Pitchfork |date=September 23, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Simpson |first=Paul |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/yves-tumor-mn0003438593/biography |title=Yves Tumor {{!}} Biography & History |work=AllMusic |access-date=October 16, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Pearl |first=Max |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/36226 |title=RA News: PAN signs Yves Tumor for debut album, Serpent Music |work=Resident Advisor |date=September 1, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2018}} That same year, they released their first album, When Man Fails You (which would later be re-released by Apothecary Compositions on April 29, 2016).{{cite web |last=Clare Welsh |first=April |url=http://www.factmag.com/2016/09/01/mykki-blanco-affiliate-yves-tumor-to-release-serpent-music-on-pan |title=Mykki Blanco affiliate Yves Tumor to release Serpent Music on PAN |website=Fact |date=September 1, 2016 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://apothecarycompositions.bandcamp.com/album/when-man-fails-you |title=When Man Fails You {{!}} Apothecary Compositions |website=Bandcamp |access-date=October 16, 2018 |archive-date=November 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121093801/https://apothecarycompositions.bandcamp.com/album/when-man-fails-you |url-status=dead }}
In September 2016, Tumor signed with PAN Records and released their label debut, Serpent Music. Yves had worked on the album for three years after moving to Leipzig, Germany. The album was recorded between Miami, Leipzig, Los Angeles and Berlin. In Pitchfork{{'}}s review of the album, critic Andy Beta compared Tumor's musical style to James Ferraro and Dean Blunt, and noted their use of "unsettling percussive loops and field recordings to create a mood as if lost in a strange urban landscape."{{cite web |last=Beta |first=Andy |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22472-serpent-music |title=Yves Tumor: Serpent Music Album Review |work=Pitchfork |date=October 6, 2016 |access-date=October 15, 2018}}
In September 2017, Tumor released a compilation album titled Experiencing the Deposit of Faith for free. Later that week, it was revealed through a tour announcement that Tumor had signed to Warp Records. Following the announcement, the artist embarked on a tour with a new audiovisual show.{{cite web |last=Ryce |first=Andrew |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news/40005 |title=RA News: Yves Tumor signs to Warp Records |work=Resident Advisor |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}{{cite web |last=Bowe |first=Miles |url=http://www.factmag.com/2017/09/15/yves-tumor-warp-records-album-stream-experiencing-deposit-faith |title=Yves Tumor signs to Warp, releases new album Experiencing The Deposit Of Faith |work=Fact |date=September 15, 2017 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}
In September 2018, Tumor released their Warp debut, Safe in the Hands of Love, with no prior announcement. It was preceded by the singles "Noid" on July 24, "Licking an Orchid" featuring James K on August 29, and "Lifetime" on September 3. The album received universal acclaim from music critics.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/safe-in-the-hands-of-love/yves-tumor |title=Safe in the Hands of Love by Yves Tumor Reviews and Tracks |work=Metacritic |access-date=October 16, 2018}} Pitchfork{{'}}s Jayson Greene stated in the review that the album "dwarfs everything the artist has released by several orders of magnitude. The leap is so audacious it's disorienting."{{cite web |last=Greene |first=Jayson |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yves-tumor-safe-in-the-hands-of-love |title=Yves Tumor: Safe in the Hands of Love Album Review |work=Pitchfork |date=September 7, 2018 |access-date=October 16, 2018}}
Tumor's fourth album, Heaven to a Tortured Mind, was released on April 3, 2020, preceded on March 3 by the single "Kerosene" featuring Diana Gordon.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/listen-to-yves-tumor-new-song-kerosene/|title=Listen to Yves Tumor's New Song "Kerosene"|website=Pitchfork|date=March 9, 2020|access-date=2020-03-09}} Alexis Petridis, reviewing the album for The Guardian, awarded it Album of the Week, describing it as "extraordinary: experimental, capable of any genre, with an internal logic powering its shifts in mood.[…] There's real skill involved in coming up with something that sounds coherent while shifting through so many styles."{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/02/yves-tumor-heaven-to-a-tortured-mind-album-review-warp|work=The Guardian|title=Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind review – strong, wrong songs of a rare genius|first=Alexis|last=Petridis|date=April 2, 2020|access-date=April 3, 2020}}
In October 2020, Tumor said in an interview with Michèle Lamy " I have another EP and a whole album basically not finished, but ready to start finishing. I've been very busy during the quarantine."{{Cite web|title=Yves Tumor — Mythology and Manipulation|website=Flaunt|url=https://flaunt.com/content/yves-tumor-manipulation-and-mythology}} In December 2020, Tumor released the single "let all the poisons that lurk in the mud seep out" in collaboration with Kelsey Lu, featuring Kelly Moran and Moses Boyd. In July 2021, they released the EP The Asymptotical World, recorded in collaboration with their bandmates, Chris Greatti and Yves Rothman. Tumor went on an international tour throughout 2022, supported by October and the Eyes, Timkoh, and Doss.{{cite web |last1=Colón |first1=Izzy |title=Yves Tumor Unveils Boundary-Pushing Video For 'Secrecy Is Incredibly Important To The Both of Them' |url=https://www.spin.com/2022/02/yves-tumor-secrecy-is-incredibly-important-to-the-both-of-them/ |website=Spin |access-date=January 15, 2024 |date=February 16, 2022}}
In February 2023, Tumor was interviewed by Courtney Love for Interview, in which they briefly hinted at an upcoming album.{{cite web |last1=Love |first1=Courtney |title="You Put Me on the Spot": Yves Tumor Meets Courtney Love |url=https://www.interviewmagazine.com/music/i-dont-do-interviews-yves-tumor-meets-courtney-love |website=Interview Magazine |date=February 22, 2023 |publisher=Jason Nikic |access-date=3 April 2023}} Shortly after, in March 2023, Tumor released their fifth album, Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds), critically acclaimed as an ambitious, "ecstatic fusion of alt-rock and R&B",{{cite web |last1=Greene |first1=Jayson |title=Review: Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yves-tumor-praise-a-lord-who-chews-but-which-does-not-consume-or-simply-hot-between-worlds/ |website=Pitchfork |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=3 April 2023}} "spellbinding art rock",{{cite web |last1=Campbell |first1=Erica |title=Yves Tumor – 'Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)' review: spellbinding art-rock |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/yves-tumor-praise-a-lord-who-chews-but-which-does-not-consume-review-3414123 |website=NME |date=March 20, 2023 |publisher=NME Networks |access-date=3 April 2023}} and a "Romantic, corporeal, gothy" offering that disrupts "hierarchies of gender, race, desire...and performance" via its "intense magnification and worship of life, death and spirituality."{{cite web |last1=Mistry |first1=Anupa |title=Yves Tumor's disruptive pop-cultural synthesis |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/03/28/1166474416/yves-tumors-praise-a-lord-review |website=NPR Music |publisher=NPR |access-date=3 April 2023}} Tumor was part of the Coachella 2023 lineup.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-21 |title=Coachella 2023 Weekend 2 Lineup & Schedule: All the Set Times You Need to Know |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/coachella-2023-weekend-2-lineup-and-schedule-all-the-set-times-you-need-to-know/ |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}
Musical style
Tumor's earlier work was compared to that of Dean Blunt and James Ferraro, the latter of whom they have collaborated with; however, their more recent music, such as Heaven to a Tortured Mind, has been likened to Prince and David Bowie.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/22472-serpent-music/|title=Yves Tumor: Serpent Music|website=Pitchfork}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.wrbbradio.org/2020/04/13/yves-tumors-attempt-at-rock-on-heaven-to-a-tortured-mind-is-their-most-gratifying-release-yet/|title = Yves Tumor's attempt at rock on 'Heaven to a Tortured Mind' is their most gratifying release yet|date = April 13, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/yves-tumor-heaven-to-a-tortured-mind/|title = Yves Tumor: Heaven to a Tortured Mind|website = Pitchfork}}
Tumor has cited Throbbing Gristle as an influence, saying: "Sonically, Throbbing Gristle (were very inspirational). There's something about their music, like the hypnotic trance vibes, that really influenced me. When I moved to Los Angeles after college, a good friend of mine would always play Chris & Cosey records when we were hanging out. I slowly became obsessed with them and started reading about Genesis P-Orridge and that whole movement."{{Cite web|url=https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/32976/1/yves-tumor-serpent-music-album-stream-interview|title = Yves Tumor is making mood music in spiritual solitude|date = September 20, 2016}}
Personal life
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tumor designed furniture and furthered their interest in upholstery: "I just got really into my other hobbies, which include architecture and interior architecture, and urban architecture, but I'm not that good at math, so I wanted to scale everything down. I just decided to just start constructing chairs and couches and stools, but I think I'm going to begin welding as opposed to actual construction."
Backing band
In the studio and during live performances, Tumor is joined by:
- Yves Rothman – keyboards, synthesizers, rhythm guitar, sampler, electronics, backing vocals (2019–present)
- Rhys Hastings – drums (2019–present)
- Maro Chon – lead guitar (2024–present)
Former members of Tumor's ensemble are:
- Chris Greatti – lead guitar (2019–2024)
- Gina Ramirez – bass guitar (2019–2024)
Discography
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of studio albums, with selected details and chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:20em;"| Details ! scope="col" colspan="4"| Peak chart positions |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| BEL (FL) {{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/album/633e6/Yves-Tumor-Heaven-to-a-Tortured-Mind|title=Heaven to a Tortured Mind - Yves Tumor|publisher=Hung Medien|language=Dutch|access-date=March 24, 2023}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| SCO ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;"| UK |
|---|
| scope="row"| When Man Fails You
|
| – || – || – || – |
| scope="row"| Serpent Music
|
| – || – || – || – |
| scope="row"| Safe in the Hands of Love
| | – || – || – || – |
| scope="row"| Heaven to a Tortured Mind
|
| 170 || 38 || 29 || 8 |
| scope="row"| Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
|
| – || – || 34 || – |
=Compilation albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of compilation albums, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| Experiencing the Deposit of Faith
|
|
|---|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of extended plays, with selected details ! scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:20em;"| Details |
| scope="row"| The Asymptotical World
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
=Guest appearances=
=Remixes=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ List of remixes ! scope="col" style="width:12em;"| Title ! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year ! scope="col" style="width:10em;"| Artist ! scope="col" style="width:14em;"| Album |
| scope="row"| "Zure" {{small|(Yves Tumor Obsession Edit)}} | 2017 |
|---|
| scope="row"| "The Altar" {{small|(Ruined By Yves Tumor)}} | rowspan="2"| 2018 | Alice Glass (Remixes){{cite web |title=Alice Glass - Remixes (2018, Red Translucent With White Smoke, Vinyl) |url=https://www.discogs.com/Alice-Glass-Remixes/release/12189302 |website=Discogs |date=June 29, 2018 }} |
| scope="row"| "Smoke" {{small|(Remix)}} | Blood Orange, Yves Tumor, Ian Isiah |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Association !Category !Nominated Work !Result !Ref |
| rowspan="3" |2019
| rowspan="3" |Libera Awards | rowspan="3" |Safe in the Hands of Love |{{nom}} |
| Best Dance/Electronic Record
|{{won}} |
| Best Outlier Record
|{{nom}} |
| 2020
|Best Independent Track |"Gospel for a New Century" |{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |2021
| rowspan="3" |Libera Awards |Record of the Year | rowspan="2" |Heaven to a Tortured Mind |{{nom}} |
| Best Outlier Record
|{{nom}} |
| rowspan="2" |2022
| rowspan="2" |"Jackie" |{{nom}} |{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/japanese-breakfast-indie-a2im-2022-libera-awards-1235212419/|title=Japanese Breakfast, Jason Isbell, Arlo Parks Lead Indie-Music Collective A2IM's 2022 Libera Awards Nominees|work=Variety|date=March 23, 2022|accessdate=March 25, 2022|first=Jem|last=Aswad}} |
| rowspan="1" |AIM Independent Music Awards
|Best Independent Track |{{nom}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://yves-tumor.warp.net/ Yves Tumor] on Warp
{{Yves Tumor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tumor, Yves}}
Category:American ambient musicians
Category:American experimental musicians
Category:African-American rock musicians
Category:21st-century American musicians
Category:Musicians from Knoxville, Tennessee
Category:Warp (record label) artists
Category:American expatriates in Italy
Category:African-American rock singers
Category:American non-binary musicians
Category:African-American LGBTQ people